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LIVING WITH YOUR HAIRPIECE
QUESTIONS
WE'VE BEEN ASKED
HOW WILL A
HAIRPIECE FEEL ON MY HEAD?
The average custom-made hairpiece only weighs about two ounces once it is cut
and styled in with your existing hair. You won't feel anything but natural. Hair
itself has very little weight, and the base is made of the lightest of
materials.
WHAT HOLDS THE HAIRPIECE ON?
Usually two-sided adhesive tape. Just a few small pieces are all that are
required. Tapes are available in rolls of various sizes and cost only a dollar
or two per roll.
Whether you use a clear plastic or fabric tape is a matter of individual
preference. You will be shown a variety of tapes at the time you purchase your
hairpiece, and your stylist can help you decide which is best.
A liquid adhesive, that is removed with alcohol, is also on the market, but it
is used primarily with hairpieces that have lace fronts. Clips are another alternative for securing a hairpiece, but they are used
infrequently.
WILL I HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT LOSING MY HAIRPIECE IN THE WINDY CITY?
Never. If the
tape is put on properly and applied to a clean scalp, it would take a 100 mph
wind to loosen it. You would blow away before that happened!
WHERE IS A DAVID HANSEN HAIRPIECE
MADE?
Right on the premises in David's hairpiece shop. This customizing is a very
special feature of the shop, since the majority of hairstylists handle
hairpieces only as a side business and order then pre-made from out-of-town
manufacturers.
HOW LONG DOSS IT
TAKE TO PHYSICALLY MAKE MY HAIRPIECE?
After the hairpiece has been designed and the hair has been properly blended, it
takes four to five days to make the base and ventilate (sew in) the hair. Of
course, the designer cannot spend four or five uninterrupted days on one
hairpiece alone, so it takes longer than that to actually receive the hairpiece,
usually a month.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE STYLE OF MY HAIRPIECE AFTER IT IS MADE?
Occasionally a style can be changed. Don't count on it, though, because the hair
is usually sewn in to make the originally intended style easier to comb. After
the piece is made there are definite limitations. Minor changes can be made, but
it is unlikely that there could be any major adjustments. That is why it is so
important that the hairpiece be designed properly from the beginning.
CAN YOU GIVE A
PERMANENT WAVE TO A HAIRPIECE?
In most cases, no. It depends on each piece and the materials used. Although
quality European hair is able to withstand it, few foundations are. Permanent
wave solution will often shrink or weaken the base. If this chemical process is
necessary, it should be administered before the hair is ever sewn into the base.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO SPEND ON MY HAIRPIECE A DAY?
Approximately three or four minutes once you are familiar with the procedure. At
first, you'll naturally be fussing with it a little longer. This is fine-take
all the time you need until you learn how to do it properly. Patience is important at
this stage, not time.
All that is required is that you comb out (or brush out) the hairpiece
thoroughly, and then secure it to your scalp before combing your own hair over
it.
On days when you change the tape, allow an extra minute or two-that's all you'll
need.
WHICH IS BETTER FOR MY HAIRPIECE, A BRUSH OR A COMB?
This is really up to you. Give them both a try at first, and then decide on
which is the easiest for you to handle and which gives you the best results.
If you decide on a comb, use only a wide-tooth one with smooth, rounded edges in
order to avoid abuse to the foundation. If you
prefer a "brush, use a natural boar bristle. This is the best type of brush not
only for the hairpiece but also for your own hair.
To maintain the shape of your hairpiece and avoid damaging it, comb or brush it
while it is on the head form supplied to you at the time of purchase.
WHAT SUPPLIES WILL I NEED TO CARE FOR MY
HAIRPIECE ON A DAILY BASIS?
Most of the supplies you'll need are those you already have and are using to
care for your existing hair.
In addition, you'll find it convenient to have a styrofoam head block and a few
T pins with which to secure the piece onto the block. You can get these from
your stylist when you pick up your hairpiece. You will also want to buy a roll
or two of tape so that you'll be able to put your hairpiece back on after taking
it off.
I HAVE SEEN ADS FOR HAIRPIECES CLAIMING THAT YOU CAN WEAR A HAIRPIECE ALL WEEK,
EVEN WHILE SHOWERING AND SLEEPING. CAN I DO THAT WITH A DAVID HANSEN HAIRPIECE?
You can't do that with any hairpiece if you expect it to look good, no matter
what some manufacturers will try to make you believe!
A hairpiece is like a piece of clothing, and you wouldn't dare sleep in the
clothes you intend to wear the next day.
Even if you could leave it on, would you really want to? Think of the
cleanliness factor alone. It's quite impossible to wash your own hair and scalp
without removing your hairpiece. Our
heads perspire just like any other part of the body. The hairpiece must be taken
off and aired out while you are showering or sleeping.
If you leave it on, you'll be shortening the life of the hairpiece considerably.
In no time at all, it will begin to look like a hairpiece.
I DO A LOT OF SWIMMING AND SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME OUTDOORS. I DON'T WANT TO
TAKE MI HAIRPIECE OFF DURING THAT TIME. WHAT CAN I DO?
Yours is a situation where a synthetic, plastic base hairpiece would be
convenient.
Although there is now an exceptional lace base capable of withstanding a dip in
the pool now and then, it is not recommended for this purpose. It is usually
reserved for European or human hair, both of which would be affected by an
overdose of sun and water, just as your natural hair and Host custom-made bases
are.
However, you will probably still want a European hair, custom-made piece for
your inside activities. Ideally, this would be the perfect solution to your
problem: Use your synthetic to knock around in and your custom made for maximum indoor effect.
WHAT WILL THE SUN ACTUALLY DO TO MY HAIRPIECE?
If your hairpiece is human or European hair, it will suffer from oxidation in
the sun. Reddish highlights will appear and the piece may eventually lighten as
much as three or four shades.
You will then have to have it tinted and perhaps have more hair added in order
for it to once again match perfectly.
It is best to avoid all of this lay simply wearing your second piece, a
synthetic, out of doors.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY HAIRPIECE AT
NIGHT?
Make sure you take it off. You'll be preserving the life of the piece and
allowing your scalp to breathe.
Put the hairpiece on the small styrofoam head or hang it on the corner of your
bedroom door, any place where it can retain its shape. You'll find that a corner
of a. picture frame also works quite well for overnight storage.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO PUT A HAIRPIECE BACK ON AFTER REMOVING IT THE NIGHT BEFORE?
No, it is a very simple procedure that your stylist will teach you at the time you pick up your
hairpiece. Basically, it consists of merely washing and drying your own hair as
you normally would, securing the piece into position, and combing a small amount
of your own hair in with that of the hairpiece.
I AM A BACHELOR. COULDN'T I LEAVE MY HAIRPIECE ON ALL NIGHT, LIKE WHEN I'M
WITH A NEW GIRLFRIEND WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT?
Of course. An occasional night of wearing your hairpiece will not cause much
harm. Only repetitive 24-hour wearing will lead to damage.
In fact, you may want to know that you needn't worry about your hairpiece coming
off on those occasions. Even excessive
activity will not dislodge it or cause you any embarrassment. It's on your head
until you decide to take it off.
IF MY GIRLFRIEND RUNS HER FINGERS THROUGH MY HAIR, WILL SHE BE ABLE TO DETECT
THE HAIRPIECE?
Well, that depends on how vigorously she engages in this activity!
In most cases, if the piece is made with a lace or gauze base, it would be very difficult to tell the difference between your own hair and the
hairpiece. But if you're wearing a synthetic with a rigid plastic base, watch
out-you would be wise to dissuade her.
I
WEAR GLASSES. WILL THIS INTERFERE WITH MY HAIRPIECE?
Not if special consideration is given to you when you are fitted for your
hairpiece. The length of hair around your ears
should be dependent on the style of your glasses.
Incidentally, we have found that extremely dark frames tend to look harsh with a
hairpiece. It might be advisable for you to get a lighter frame when you select
your next pair.
HOW DO I CLEAN MY HAIRPIECES?
You don't! Or at least you shouldn't. Bring it to your stylist for servicing.
A hairpiece is a delicate object that requires gentle care. Water should never
be used on it. So forget about shampooing it at home. It must be cleaned with a
special fluid that performs
best when handled by a professional.
Only in very rare cases, when it is impossible for a man to return regularly to the shop, will David Hansen personally train him or his wife to clean
the hairpiece.
It's not practical to do it at home if your stylist is accessible. You would
have to buy not only the fluid, but also the supplies used for the procedure-and
that could result in a. rather heavy investment.
Besides, another advantage of leaving the cleaning to your stylist is that he
can check the hairpiece on a regular basis for signs of wear or oxidation and
make any adjustments necessary.
Your hairpiece is cleaned at the same time your own hair is being styled, so the
arrangement is quite convenient.
HOW OFTEN IS CLEANING NECESSARY?
Your hairpiece should be serviced every week to two weeks. Remember, you wear it
every day, and like your own hair, it must be kept clean in order to be
manageable.
WHAT DOES SERVICING INCLUDE?
The tape and hair spray residue is removed from the hairpiece, in addition to
that caused by scalp oils and perspiration. By the time the stylist is finished
cleaning your hairpiece, its original fluffiness and bounce are restored and your style is once again set
in.
Your own hair is shampooed and styled concurrently, so the
entire procedure takes only 1/2 hour.
WHAT DOES SERVICING COST?
At David Hansen's shop, servicing the hairpiece costs only $60, in addition to
what you would normally pay for your shampoo and style.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO APPLY A CONDITIONER TO A
HAIRPIECE?
Not with the products that are available at this time. The problem lies in the
fact that water must be used to get the conditioner off the hair, and this is
detrimental to the foundation of the hairpiece.
WHAT SYMPTOMS WILL I NOTICE WHEN MY HAIRPIECE IS STARTING TO WEAR OUT?
Not all symptoms occur at the same time, but eventually you will notice one or
two of them.
Hair, just like your natural hair, will slowly begin to oxidize and get either a
reddish tint or two to three shades lighter. This is not a drastic change. It is
a very gradual one that is barely detectable by others.
Also, after a long period of continuous use, hair may slowly begin to fall out, or, through rough
handling, your base may tear.
HOW LONG CAN I
EXPECT MY HAIRPIECE TO LAST?
This depends on the type of hairpiece you have and how much you have invested in
it. Expect a custom-made piece to look
fantastic for about a year. After that, as the first signs of age appear,
repairs can be made and adjustments to the color may be necessary. It will then
be useable for several more years, especially if you eventually begin to use it
as a second piece. A stock hairpiece looks undetectable for about six months;
then adjustments must start being made. When major repair finally becomes
necessary, it is not as financially advisable as with a custom made.
WHAT CAN BE DONE
ABOUT OXIDATION?
We can minimize the problem of oxidation," but we cannot obliterate it.
Oxidation is caused by sunlight, florescent lighting, even air-things we cannot
get away from. All hair oxidizes, but it's not quite as noticeable on your own,
due to the fact that you have it cut regularly. The process is more obvious on a hairpiece,
because the hair doesn't grow and is never trimmed.
If your hairpiece is not cleaned regularly, you are setting it up as an open
target for oxidation. The piece will tend to discolor and deteriorate. Proper
care is a must and the most sensible solution. If your stylist regularly cares
for and checks your hairpiece, he can ward off oxidation in its early stages
with a simple color rinse. Later on, a more permanent type of hair color can be
applied.
There are some people who request that a small amount of the hair blended into
their pieces be a good synthetic, such as Elura. This will oxidize, too, but not
nearly as fast as human
hair.
WOULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS MEANT WHEN YOU SPEAK OF REPAIRING A HAIRPIECE?
There are three basic types of repair:
1. Recoloring; All hairpieces will oxidize eventually and need recoloring.
However, this is possible only on human or European hair. Permanent hair
coloring (aniline derivatives) cannot be successfully applied to synthetics.
2. The Addition of More Hair; after continuous wear, some hair may begin to fall
out. This is solved by ventilating additional hair that is blended together to
achieve the original color. This is much easier to do on a custom-made piece,
because the hair is sewn in by hand, rather than by machine.
3. The Replacement of the Base; Replacing a worn-out base is quite difficult on
a synthetic piece with a rigid base, but the lace or gauze bases of custom-made
pieces are easily rewoven and repaired.
By now, you are probably getting the idea that although a stock piece is cheaper
in the beginning, it is not as good an investment as a custom-made piece. And
you are absolutely right A custom-made piece costs a little more at the time of
purchase, but it is easily and inexpensively repaired. Any one of the above
methods of repair would cost no more than $50 per hour on a custom-made piece. A cheaper
stock piece, on the other hand, will eventually cost the
same in repairs as it did to buy it originally.
The best advice I can give you is to start out with a quality hairpiece-it will
save you money in the long run!
A
FINAL WORD
The decision is now up to you: To bald or not to bald?
To be successful at coping with baldness, you must have enough self-confidence
not to worry about what others think. If you draw attention to your bald area by
obviously trying to camouflage it, you gain nothing but people's sympathy and
certainly not their respect. In other words, don't be foolish enough to spread a
few pathetic strands of hair over a shiny scalp. If you feel you must do this in
order to be comfortable, baldness is not for you! Don't be embarrassed by it-
baldness is not for most men!
If you needed a new suit, you would buy it. If your front teeth were knocked out
in an accident, you would visit your dentist for replacements. If your eyesight
was no longer up to par, you would consider eyeglasses a must. Why then, should
losing your hair be treated differently?
Hair replacement, too, is a necessity
if baldness causes you the least bit of disturbance, whether it be the
result of your self-image or the reactions of others. To care about your
appearance is only natural; and more important, in today's world, it's
warranted by just good common sense |
